Call of Duty: Black Ops II Apocalypse DLC arrives on PS3 today

There are two ways to look at Apocalypse, the fourth and final DLC collection for Call of Duty: Black Ops II. You might see it as the end of new multiplayer maps after a long, fruitful year of content. Or, you might choose to see it as the beginning of the Zombies storyline. Either way, you’re right.

Let’s start with Origins, the Zombies adventure that answers one of the biggest questions in Call of Duty history: how did all this undead chaos really begin? The answer lies in World War I, and the original heroes of the Zombies saga – Dempsey, Nikolai, Takeo, and Richtofen – will be the ones who uncover that answer.  With plenty of hidden surprises, a new song from Avenged Sevenfold, and giant robots that stomp across the battlefield, Origins is as satisfying as it is cryptic.

On the multiplayer front, Apocalypse delivers four maps worthy of the skill you’ve honed for months. Takeoff – a fresh take on the Black Ops fan-favorite Stadium – takes place on a remote launch platform in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, with statues and corridors that make you earn every sight line.

Pod takes place among the modern ruins of a 1970s utopian village, its flying-saucer-like living quarters dilapidated and decayed as nature slowly reclaims its seaside locale. Dig, on the other hand, features nowhere to run and everywhere to hide – a maze of small walls around an archaeological site in Afghanistan, and a loving update to the classic World at War map, Courtyard.

And finally, Frost brings the snowy streets of Amsterdam to life, complete with majestic stone lion statues, a frozen river beneath a contested bridge and… a cheese shop? Why not? (Keep an eye out for the washer and dryer on this level, too.) Now that you have your weapons and load-outs dialled in, all four levels should provide ample challenge. This is your ultimate test.

Apocalypse is available today for £11.59/€14.49 on PlayStation Store, but if you have a Black Ops II Season Pass, you’ve already secured your copy – just download from the in-game Store menu. See you online!